Tuesday, October 28, 2003

Digital Spy - Latest television news from America

Digital Spy - Latest television news from America: "The FCC rule had been challenged by the Consumer Electronics Association, which represents major manufacturers including Zenith and Sony. The CEA said that the rule was unnecessary for two main reasons; firstly, that it would make sets more expensive, and secondly that subscribers to digital cable or digital satellite services would not need the tuners. The FCC rule is designed to provide 'plug-and-play' functionality, in that someone can buy a TV, plug it into their antenna socket, and watch local free-to-air digital terrestrial television broadcasts.

The Court sided with the FCC ruling, saying that the consumer electronics industry was not moving fast enough to incorporate digital tuners into sets on its own. The U.S. Congress has set a target date of December 2006 for analogue switch-off."

This would be good, except for the next story.

"The US National Association of Broadcasters has written to Federal Communications Commission chairman Michael Powell urging the Commission to require a 'broadcast flag' to be transmitted on digital TV programmes."

This 'broadcast flag' would make it impossible for regular viewers of TV to record shows, time-shift them, or fast-forward through commercials. The NAB considers that stealing.

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